Environmental Tips

Reduce Waste and Energy by Stopping Unwanted Mail

kmakley@portofsandiego.org (Kelly Makley) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:46:30 +0000

Did you know that each American receives almost 560 pieces of junk mail per year? That's enough to drive anyone nuts... but did you ever think about the environmental impacts of all this unwanted mail? Annually, the production and transport of junk mail consumes more energy than 2.8 million cars, and uses 100 million trees. Want to help put an end to this madness?

Sign up for an unwanted mail reduction service, which will not only reduce your environmental impact, but will bring you some peace of mind each time you visit your mailbox. Here's a few options:

Mailstopper - a paid service that stops your junk mail and actively keeps you from getting back on mailing lists. They promise to stop 90% of your junk mail in 90 days for $20/year.
Do Not Mail Registry - a free way to add yourself to DirectMail.com's National Do Not Mail Registry, where you can pick and choose which lists you'd like to opt in or out of.
Catalog Choice - a free way to opt out of paper catalogs and choose which catalogs you wish to subscribe to online through iCatalogs.
Opt Out Prescreen - a free way to opt out of preapproved credit card and insurance offers. You can choose whether or not you'd like to provide your social security #.
Yellow Pages Go Green - a free way to remove your name from the phone book mailing list if you prefer to use online directories instead.

Water Conservation Rebate Program

kmakley@portofsandiego.org (Kelly Makley) — Wed, 20 May 2009 23:33:04 +0000

Did you know that the San Diego County Water Authority has recently issued an 8% cutback on the water they supply to their member retail agencies? Many water agencies throughout the region are escalating to Level 2: Drought Alert, which includes mandatory conservation requirements. Find the website of your water agency to learn about specific requirements in your neighborhood by clicking here .

To help residents prepare for the start of these mandatory conservation requirements, the San Diego County Water Authority is providing $450,000 to establish a Water Conservation Rebate Program. The rebates will be available now through June 30 or until funding runs out. They're available on a first-come, first-served basis and include:

High-efficiency clothes washers
High-efficiency toilets
Weather-based irrigation controllers
Rotating sprinkler nozzles

If you're interested, be sure to contact the program by phone or online to reserve your rebate before you make any purchases! Visit 20 Gallon Challenge for more information on the rebate program.

The Nifty 50 List of Watersmart Plants

kmakley@portofsandiego.org (Kelly Makley) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:32:58 +0000

Did you know that 30% of the typical American family's water is used outdoors? The EPA reports that nationwide water use for irrigation is highest in the southwest region of the country due to our arid climate. With increasing water rates potentially forthcoming, selecting plants for your yard that use less water is a win-win... these plants will save you up to 15% on your water bill and reduce your environmental impact!

Check out the San Diego County Water Authority's new Nifty 50 List, which showcases 50 watersmart plants including shrubs, succulents, vines, groundcover, grass, perennials, and trees. It was created to make it easy for you to enhance your landscape and save water. The brochure provides many options for attractive, readily available, non-invasive and drought tolerant plants that will look great in your yard.

To view the Nifty 50 List, click here.

Or, to learn more about upcoming water regulations expected to take place in San Diego County, visit The 20 Gallon Challenge.

Choose a Greener Cleaner

kmakley@portofsandiego.org (Kelly Makley) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:46:16 +0000

Did you know that the chemicals used at your local dry cleaner could be harming the environment? Most traditional dry cleaners use a solvent called perc (Perchloroethylene), a chemical that has been classified by the EPA as a groundwater contaminant and a potential human health hazard.

Choose a greener cleaner! Use dry cleaners that specialize in one of these two EPA-supported cleaning methods:

Wet cleaning: The EPA considers this to be one of the safest professional cleaning methods. It involves the use of computer-controlled washers and dryers with specialized detergents that are milder than most home laundry products. Visit http://www.ecovian.com/s/sandiego/green-dry-cleaners-wet-cleaning for a list of businesses in San Diego that offer wet cleaning services.
Carbon dioxide cleaning: This process involves the use of non-toxic, liquid carbon dioxide (the same form used to carbonate soda) as the cleaning solvent. In case you're wondering, the impact on climate change is minimal and this method actually uses less energy than traditional dry cleaning. Visit www.findco2.com for a list of businesses in California that offer carbon dioxide cleaning services.

**Don't be deceived by a business that touts their use of the Green Earth cleaning method, which is a non-perc solvent that is also noted as a potential carcinogen by the EPA.

Remind Your Neighbor to Conserve Water

kmakley@portofsandiego.org (Kelly Makley) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:07:00 +0000

Did you know that Governor Schwarzenegger has recently proclaimed a state of emergency due to drought conditions and regulatory restrictions impacting the state's water supply? There is a very strong chance that mandatory water-saving measures will be ordered in San Diego County in the near future.

Now is the time to help San Diegans remember to conserve! Ever get irked by your neighbor's sprinklers that are watering the pavement? Or become aggravated by an apartment building running their irrigation on a rainy day? You now have a handy tool to give these water-wasters a friendly reminder to conserve!

The San Diego County Water Authority has distributed pads of yellow door hangers throughout the county to help San Diegans alert their neighbors to potential water-wasting problems in their yards. Each hanger contains a checklist of common outdoor issues and recommended tips that can save thousands of gallons of water. Hangers were distributed in the March 1 San Diego Union-Tribune and will be distributed in the March 5 North County Times. If you didn't get any door hangers, you can download them and print them yourself by clicking on Help Alert Your Neighbors About Their Potential Water Waste or visiting www.20gallonchallenge.com.

Be Green with Online Banking

kmakley@portofsandiego.org (Kelly Makley) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 23:28:42 +0000

Did you know that if all Americans eliminated the need for paper bills by viewing and paying their bills online, we could keep 18.5 million trees growing each year?

If you haven't already done so, sign up for online bill pay with your bank. Most banks now provide this service for free. Online bill pay is a convenient and easy way to reduce your environmental impact (and paper cuts). You could also save up to $148 per year on stamps!

In addition, a recent study found that people who bank online reduce their chances of identity theft by up to 10% since there's no paper trail.

If your bank doesn't provide free online banking, try Mycheckfree.

Sweep it Up!

kmakley@portofsandiego.org (Kelly Makley) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:28:38 +0000

Did you know that California is in a state of official drought? San Diego County water supplies are being impacted by historic dry conditions and court-ordered pumping restrictions. We can all help the region conserve more water!

Sweep up outdoor dust, trash and debris instead of hosing it down. This simple action results in a dual benefit; not only does it conserve up to 18 gallons of water per minute, it also prevents polluted water from flowing down the nearest storm drain and into your local body of water.

Visit www.20gallonchallenge.com for more information about water conservation, and www.thinkblue.org to learn more about how to prevent storm drain pollution.

Take the Stairs!

kmakley@portofsandiego.org (Kelly Makley) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:27:55 +0000

Did you know that just one elevator uses about the same amount of energy annually as seven homes? Choosing to take the stairs instead of the elevator is a win-win... this simple action not only minimizes your personal impact on the environment, but is also great for your health.

Next time you're on the move in a multi-story building, try taking the stairs!

Climbing stairs burns up to 10 times more calories than standing in an elevator. Please visit the Public Health Agency of Canada's "Stairway to Health" page to determine how many calories you burn by using the stairs.

Environmentally-friendly Fireplaces

kmakley@portofsandiego.org (Kelly Makley) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:11:07 +0000

Did you know that your wood-burning stove or fireplace could be creating indoor air pollution in your home? Indoor fires emit soot and carbon monoxide, two byproducts of your warm, crackling fire that aren't so cozy. Here are a few tips to make your fireplace more friendly throughout the remaining winter season:

Choose petroleum-free combustibles (such as Duraflame) that emit less carbon monoxide than conventional wood. If you prefer wood, use wood that has dried for at least 9 months, because it emits fewer pollutants and burns hotter and faster.
Leave the damper open to achieve complete combustion. When oxygen is limited your fire begins to smoke rather than burn, resulting in more indoor air pollution.
Have your chimneys, fireplaces, and wood-burning stoves checked once a year by a Certified Chimney Sweep. This inspection will determine if your fireplace is functioning properly. Visit www.csia.org for more information.

Green Cleaning Products

kmakley@portofsandiego.org (Kelly Makley) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:32:22 +0000

Is your home in need of a good cleaning in preparation for holiday houseguests? Unfortunately, the chemicals in many conventional household cleaning products can cause indoor air pollution in your home. They can also pollute groundwater and ultimately affect the aquatic environment. Using green cleaning products can benefit you, your family, and the environment!

When shopping for household cleaning products, look for Green Seal certification. Green Seal is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the use of environmentally responsible products.

Visit www.greenseal.org for a list of Green Seal certified cleaning products.